Rumor: Nocioni for Turkoglu?

"I openly told the Kings that I wasn’t going to stay. They told me they were OK with it and that they were going to try to trade me to a competitive team, probably on draft day … I have to wait. Toronto is not a bad option, but I don’t want to talk about rumors." -Andres Nocioni, Sacramento Kings.

For days, this rumor has been making rounds in Sacramento and Toronto. Nocioni and Turkoglu both requested a trade, so the Kings and Raptors should consider swapping problems.

On the one hand, this would make sense. After all, the money is close. Both Nocioni and Turkoglu have long-term pacts, but the Raptors would need to take back another role player to match up contracts.

The Kings might have interest in Turkgolu -if he turns back the clock to 2009, while the Raptors could use the Argentine’s aggression,

On the other hand, things are complicated for both teams. The Kings are young and may be weary of adding the Turkish swing’s big ticket and attitude. Of course, the Raptors want to cut ties with Turkoglu, but are unsure of what assets to seek with Chris Bosh’s pending free agency. For instance, if Bosh leaves, GM Bryant Colangelo may want pieces to rebuild with. If Bosh re-signs, Colangelo may prefer a veteran, perhaps, like Nocioni.

Nocioni is right: ‘Toronto is not a bad option’, but he’ll have to wait and see if a trade materializes.